Product description

For years, the local Spook has been keeping the County safe from ghosts and boggarts, but more especially from witches. And here are five dark and terifying witch stories from the Spook's own collection. There are child-eating witches, witch assassins, Celtic witches, dead witches, and witches so beautiful they can break a man's heart.

Author information

Joseph Delaney is a retired English teacher living in Lancashire. He has three children and nine grandchildren and is a wonderful public speaker available for conference, library and bookshop events. His home is in the middle of Boggart territory and his village has a boggart called the Hall Knocker, which was laid to rest under the step of a house near the church. Most of the places in the Spook's books are based on real places in Lancashire. And the inspiration behind the stories often comes from local ghost stories and legends. The Spook's Apprentice, The Spook's Curse, The Spook's Secret and The Spook's Sacrifice have all been shortlisted for the Lancashire children's Book for the Year Award. The Spook's Apprentice is the winner of both the Sefton Book Award and the Hampshire Book Award.

Review quote

"Instantly evocative and highly filmic" -- Amanda Craig The Times "This gathering of five short stories is an invaluable addition to The Wardstone Chronicles; much is explained in detail and Delaney gives Spook's devotees a greater insight into some of his most beloved and intriguing characters" Fantasy Book Review "What really sets it a notch above some of its peers is some terrific writing, dense atmosphere, and the intriguing glimpse of English folklore it affords its readers" -- Stefan Bachmann The Bookbag "Each dark tale stands alone and don't worry if you haven't yet discovered the Wardstone Chronicles because you don't have to be a Spook aficionado to enjoy these haunting histories. Just make sure you're not alone when you read them!" -- Pam Norfolk Lancashire Evening Post "This spooky collection of gruesome, brutal tales about witches, spooks, and boggarts is a great way to spend an afternoon, losing yourself in the world of the weird" First News